, and population status. Because the vaquita was only fully described in the late 1980s, historical abundance is unknown. The first comprehensive vaquita survey throughout their range took place in 1997 and estimated a population of 567 individuals. By 2007 abundance was estimated to have dropped to 150.
Some articles claimed Fewer than 30 vaquitas are left in the world, and one died when scientists tried to catch it for a captive-breeding program.
My chosen answer was Captivity is to be the last resort to keep vaquitas alive. The Mexican government and CIRVA announced plans to try and capture the remaining shy cetaceans, with hopes for a captive breeding program. But here’s the rub: Not a single vaquita has ever been caught alive.
How many Vaquitas are still alive today?
The latest report by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA) estimates that only between 6 and 22 individuals remained alive in 2018. It is possible, though, that there no more than 10 vaquitas left.
Another frequently asked question is “How many vaquita are left in the world?”.
One source stated the vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. With as few as around 10 left, the species will become extinct without a fully enforced gillnet ban throughout their entire habitat. WWF is urgently working to ensure they can live and thrive in their natural habitat.
When we were reading we ran into the query “How many tiny vaquita porpoises are left?”.
One source argued that There are fewer than 10 tiny vaquita porpoises left. Can they be saved? | Animals | The Guardian There are fewer than 10 tiny vaquita porpoises left.
Why is the vaquita endangered?
Nearly one out of every five vaquita get entangled and drown in gillnets intended for other marine species like the totoaba, a critically endangered fish also found in the upper Gulf of California. Entanglement in gillnets set for totoaba was the primary cause that brought the vaquita to low levels by the mid-1970s.
The population has dropped drastically in the last few years.
One source argued that they are most often found close to shore in the Gulf’s shallow waters , although they quickly swim away if a boat approaches. The vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world.
One of the next things we wondered was what is it like to be a vaquita?
This is what our research found. if you are a vaquita, your life is perilous . Although you probably don’t know it, every day you run the risk of stumbling into a fishing net, becoming entangled and suffocating when you can’t get to the surface to breathe. Fishing nets have almost wiped vaquitas out. In 1997 there were around 600 vaquitas.
What is WWF doing to help estimate the vaquita population?
WWF has long collaborated on acoustic monitoring , to help estimate the vaquita population. WWF will continue to support acoustic monitoring of the population, as it provides crucial information for the design and implementation of effective conservation measures.